This just makes a sad story even more sad, knowing that Hev was TRYING to get his health on track and still lost the battle. TMZ reports the hip-hop legend was serious about battling his weight up to the very end, running nearly every day, and frequenting several L.A. gyms.

Marisa Mendez

One of his most recent trainers — a guy named Tony, who helped Heavy D lose 150 pounds in 2008 — tells TMZ, D stopped in to Ultra Body Fitness in West Hollywood 3 months before his death … and began to re-strategize his training program.

Tony tells us, the rapper looked like he hadn’t worked out in a while and wanted to get active again.

At that point, sources close to Heavy D tell us, the rapper embarked on a daily running regimen and frequented several other nearby gyms to diversify his exercise experience — incorporating everything from hiking to boxing.

At his peak, Tony tells us, Heavy worked out 6-7 days a week.